Waldorf, Hands On Learning and the Thesis Continues

I'm experiencing insane levels of stress as I finish my papers for my Masters in Education. The papers are due March 15th which feels like it's just a weekend away and I've run out of time. I still have three and a half weeks until Joel gets here and my goal is to have the papers completed by then. It's just overwhelming. School everyday, come home, eat, feel so tired that I just want to sleep, try to work on the papers, can't sleep because I haven't finished enough on the papers. Sick with a stomach thing last week, now sick with a bronchial/sinus thing this week. The whole staff is sick, sniffling and miserable. The stress levels are high for everyone and I've got this research, writing and Masters on top of it. It's too much. 2007 really hit the ground running.

Every Fondue is Different

Friday night I had the pleasure of going to dinner with my friend Robin, her husband Tim and his friend Wao at the oldest farm in La Chaux-de-Fonds. La Ferme des Brandt was built in 1614 and has really cool stubby wide doorways, strange details and a huge dining hall that is half consumed by a giant fireplace. Unfortunately the fire was not blazing, but the fondue was super yummy.

I haven't been in Switzerland that long, but I have been here long enough to know that every fondue is different. It's amazing how a pot of bubbling cheese could have such distinctly different results each time, but it does. It depends on the cheese firstly and principally, but then there is the cook. Some people use a lot of garlic, others not so much. Some people use kirsch, some don't. Some people use just a little bit of wine, others a ton. But, even if the same person makes it with cheese from the same source, it's different every time. When you get a really good fondue, enjoy it while it lasts, because like the snowflakes outside, it's a unique and random result in a universe of possibilities.

Sick Day

I'm home sick today, feeling isolated and having no success researching my thesis. I guess this is the perfect time to bring the blog up to date.

Basel Weihnachtsmarkt
My friend Carolyn and I took a pre-Christmas trip to Basel. Both the Christmas Market and the city lived up to their reputations and the gluhwein and sausages were just right. Yum.

I love the keepsake mug.

Enjoying the Weihnachtsmarkt.

Me and Carolyn.

Cutest building ever.
I want to live above that shop behind those shuttered windows.

Winter wonderland. Minus the snow.

I love this bakery -- hearts everywhere.

Outdoor stand up and deliver culinary delights.

Home
The holidays were great and that made coming back to Switzerland a bit of a let down. Back to the routine, back to the stress, back to being without my love bunnies. Rudy doesn't arrive until April 1st, but it's just five weeks until Joel arrives, so I've been devoting much energy and love to nesting and turning the apartment into a happy, cozy little nest for us to be in together. La.

Seattle

Silly

Driving to Oregon

Rudy wears H&M

Rudy gets an eye infection

Rudy won't come out from under the Christmas Tree

Rudy's first flight from Seattle to Spokane.
Propellers. Fun!

All dressed up and ready for New Year's at Chop Suey.

Chop Suey 2007.
The opening band, Wild Sweet Orange, from Alabama were completely awesome.
Get on over to kexp to listen.

I shall try to be a better blogger in 2007.